DIRECTV Adds CSPAN 3 But Not For Everyone

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, how come I can’t find CSPAN 3 in my DIRECTV lineup? I read that it’s supposed to be a new channel. – Chime, town withheld.

Chime, DIRECTV, which has carried CSPAN 1 and 2, has added CSPAN 3 but not everyone can watch it. Let me explain.

The TV provider has added CSPAN 3 to its MyNews genre pack which offers 15 news channels such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC for $39.99 a month. However, the channel, which offers live coverage of federal government related meetings and historical issues, has not been added to DIRECTV‘s signature channel plans such as Entertainment and Choice. You can only watch it on DIRECTV if you order the MyNews genre pack. This is in contrast to CSPAN 1 and 2 (the official channels for Congressional hearings and speeches) which is available in all of the DIRECTV signature plans.

You might say to yourself that you should order the MyNews plan to watch CSPAN 3. However, the genre packs are only available to streaming customers, not satellite subscribers. So if you’re a DIRECTV satellite customer, you’re out of luck.

Chime, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.